Najmul Hossain Shanto

Najmul Hossain Shanto is a classic left-handed batter who began playing cricket at a young age. His talent was evident early on when he scored a double-century at the school level, catching the attention of selectors. This led to his inclusion in Bangladesh's squad for the 2014 Under-19 World Cup at just 15 years old. Soon after, he made his mark in domestic cricket, scoring his maiden century for Rajshahi Division.

His rise continued when he was selected for a second U-19 World Cup in 2016, where he delivered two consecutive Man of the Match performances against South Africa and Scotland. Emerging as one of the standout players, he scored 259 runs, helping Bangladesh achieve a third-place finish in the tournament. His impressive performances extended to the Bangladesh T20 League, where he scored a brilliant fifty on debut for Comilla Victorians.

Najmul’s consistent performances at the youth level and in domestic cricket earned him a place in Bangladesh’s preliminary squad for the New Zealand tour. He was handed his Test debut in January 2017 as a replacement for the injured Mominul Haque. However, his debut was underwhelming, with scores of 18 and 12, leading to his exclusion from the squad. Over the next few years, he was given sporadic international opportunities but struggled to cement his place, prompting a return to domestic cricket to work on his consistency.

In September 2019, following Bangladesh's disappointing loss to Afghanistan in a tri-nation T20I series, Najmul was recalled to the national squad. He made his T20I debut on September 18, 2019, against Zimbabwe. That same year, he was named captain of Bangladesh's squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup and later led the team in the 2019 South Asian Games, where Bangladesh secured the gold medal by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

His breakthrough moment in international cricket came in April 2021, when he scored his first Test century (163 runs) against Sri Lanka in the opening match of a two-Test series. In September 2022, Najmul was selected for the T20 World Cup, where he emerged as Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer with 180 runs, including half-centuries against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

His form continued into 2023, earning him a spot in Bangladesh’s T20I and ODI squad against England. On March 1, 2023, he registered his maiden ODI half-century and played a crucial role in Bangladesh's first-ever T20I win against England. His red-ball success was further solidified in June 2023, when he became only the second Bangladeshi to score two centuries in a single Test during a match against Afghanistan.

In February 2024, the Bangladesh selection committee appointed Najmul Hossain Shanto as captain across all formats. A month later, in March 2024, he recorded a historic unbeaten 122 against Sri Lanka, the highest score ever by a Bangladeshi captain in men’s ODIs. His leadership credentials were further recognized when he was named Bangladesh’s captain for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

In the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Shanto topped the run charts with 516 runs for Sylhet Strikers, becoming the first Bangladeshi to surpass 500 runs in a BPL season. His stellar performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
From a prodigious youth cricketer to Bangladesh’s all-format captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto's journey has been one of perseverance and growth. With his ability to anchor innings and lead from the front, he has made a name for himself on the global stage.